The start of Spring in the Chinese system is the beginning of February and falls on February 3rd in 2022. This day is called a cross quarter day and represent the midpoint between the Winter solstice and the Spring equinox. In the Chinese system this also represents the beginning of the new year and is a time of renewal. It is one of the biggest holidays in China and is a two week celebration called Spring Festival where red lanterns are hung to honor the initiation of a new cycle. It is also a time to observe your inner infrastructure and notice what the initial stirrings of Spring feel like for you.

Spring corresponds to the liver organ system and the wood element.  It is an organ that has an abundant vital life force, or Qi, associated with it, embodied by its color of green or the green shoots of life that survive winter to burst through the ground with vigor.  Spring, as is the liver, is an expansive and ascendant energy.  It is birth energy that will come forth at any cost and can become frustrated when it gets stuck or blocked in any way. The liver functions as our filtration and detoxification system to eliminate toxins, be they environmental, emotional, endogenous, etc.  In Chinese medicine, the liver is responsible for regulating the smooth flow of Qi in the body. It rules the tendons and muscles in the body, and you will often see that people who have stuck liver Qi that they also have sore muscles, especially of the neck and shoulders as well as may feel emotionally frustrated or angered when overwhelmed.

Spring in the Inner World

This wood energy is magnificent and powerful when it is in balance.  This energy in its positive aspects is our creativity, kindness, the desire to be of service.  When out of balance it can become anger, frustration, moodiness, and depression. Brene Brown, a researcher who studies shame, vulnerability and leadership, observed, “Unused creativity is not benign, it metastasizes. It turns into grief, rage, judgement, sorrow, shame.” Her assessment is a profound assessment of the power of how Spring manifests in our inner world. We can put this energy to use in our lives through movement like exercise or through acts of creative expression, like art, music, or writing. If we stuff it or ignore this vital lifeforce energy, it becomes stuck in our energy bodies and can result in emotional states like depression or repressed anger. In Chinese medicine, this is called liver qi stagnation, which describes not only the physical state but also the emotional and spiritual consequences of ignoring or burying this need to express and evolve our unique and beautiful sense of purpose.

Spring is represented by the Wood element. Being in nature, especially in the company of trees is a concrete way to nurture and support this aspect of our being. I am struck by the people I have worked with over the years consistently describe being drawn to the woods and to trees as a balm and healing for liver energy that has been suppressed or that is depleted. Also simply creating without judgment or an end goal allows the vast and nonverbal intelligence of this energy to unfold and manifest itself in powerful ways.

One of the ways I like to channel this energy is to paint. I gather the paint colors that speak to me and excite me, and I mix them and paint them on a blank canvas without any specific intention, allowing my inner feelings of joy and excitement to lead the process. There is not designated thing I am creating but is about play and flow. I once painted a perfectly shaped bowl that emerged during one of these painting sessions that was a powerful and important healing metaphor for me at that time.

Physical Health Issues that Correspond with Spring Energy

This energy can manifest differently for each individual, depending on our constitution, stress levels (this especially can exacerbate livery symptoms), lifestyle, diet, and health conditions. But there are obvious commonalities.  Here are some possibilities:

• Headaches – the ascending energy can rise into the head and get trapped in the bones of the skull. This can be a hard time for those who have migraine headaches.
• Feeling wired
• Eye issues such as redness or swelling around the eyes
• Moodiness, sudden anger, frustration, and irritation
• Skin conditions such as red, itchy, weepy or dry skin problem that can occur anywhere or move around, but most especially those in the upper body (ie neck or head)
• More susceptible to stress
• PMS – in women this can look like PMS symptoms like moodiness, breast tenderness, cramping pain right before the period or on the first day, irregular bleeding or spotting, bloating, and gas
• An aversion to wind and possibly even colds that start out as sore throats – wind comes with the springs and is associated with the liver.  When the liver is weak it can leave you more susceptible to internal wind (tremors or spasms) as well as an eternal invasion of wind (colds and sore throat)

These conditions share several characteristics.  First, they all represent rising energy.  Second there is a component of heat in them, because of the rising nature of heat. Third, they can all be aggravated by trying to filter or process too many things at once. Please note that if you already suffer from any of these conditions, the onset of spring can aggravate them.

If you have chronic or serious health issues, these practices can supplement and support you, but it is best to seek the assistance of an herbalist of Chinese medicine practitioner who can tailor an herbal formula or program to your specific issue (especially if you have a chronic health issue that we mention above that may be aggravated during Spring).
Taking Care of Ourselves During Spring

• Nature provides the most beneficial food for us in season.  Greens (the color associated with the liver and wood element), dark green leafies, are perhaps the most excellent springtime tonic food. Kale, bok choy, spinach, swiss chard, dandelion greens (one of the best), beet greens, mustard greens are all wonderful foods to eat in great abundance.  Be sure to cook your greens, either steaming them or sauteeing them.  It is still cold outside, meaning your body may need some extra assistance metabolizing your food.  Cooking them helps your body better digest them.
• Seaweeds added to sautés & broth, such as miso soup, help promote cleansing and support the body during the seasonal change.
• Broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables (brussel sprouts are one of my favorites) help cleanse the liver and reduce congestion left over from the cold months of winter.
• Beets are an excellent liver tonic and enrich the liver blood. This is especially important if you have signs and symptoms such as dry skin, scanty blood or no blood flow for your menstrual cycle, trouble falling asleep, anxiety, racing thoughts, cold limbs, numb feet and hands, and forgetfulness, just to mention a few signs of the most common symptoms of deficient liver blood. Berries such as raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries are all good ways of nourishing the blood.
• Omega-3 fatty acids, although less cleansing than supportive, help facilitate the transition from winter to spring. I like sardines (packed in water), wild caught salmon, flaxseed milk, black beans, and kidney beans. These foods are a way to nourish the blood and yin aspects of the body, important for everyone.
• Goji or lycii berries are an excellent tonic for the liver and the eyes.  They can increase energy levels, libido, reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, improve vision, and are high in antioxidants. Gojis are especially excellent if you have deficient liver blood described above in food section in the bullet about beets. If you have digestive issues, you may want to avoid or limit your consumption of Gojis because they can be more difficult to digest.
• Dandelion (taraxacum officinale). This is one of the best liver remedies. The root and leaves are a bitter that stimulates digestive enzymes and can aid digestion. The root also helps remove metabolic waste from the blood, supporting liver functioning. The leaves in particular, are have a high content of Vitamin A (almost as much as carrots) and B, C, and G, as well as iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, choline, calcium, boron, and silicon.  The leaves are a diuretic can help detoxify the system through urination, while not depleting your mineral levels. Please note that you should avoid dandelion root if you have a blockage of your bile ducts, gallbladder inflammation, or intestinal blockage.
• Chamomile tea (Matricaria Recutia or German Chamomile and Anthemis nobiles or Roman Chamomile) – This is an herb that does so many thing well that it tends to get overlooked and forgotten.   Chamomile flowers are anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative, and sedative. This means they settle the stomach, relax the body and mind, and can help alleviate digestive upset, menstrual cramps, and tension headaches.  You can drink it as a tea for a calming and soothing ritual.  We also recommend chamomile tea or a poultice for mouth sores and swollen, red, or inflammed eyes.  You can brew up a cup of tea and use your teabag as an external poultice.  While similar in function, one note about the difference between Roman and German is that German is more bitter and a stronger anti-inflammatory, while Roman is sweeter tasting.
• Intentionally and deliberately align with the life force energy.  You may call it Source energy, the Divine, God, or Goddess.  You can use whatever prayer, rituals, or traditions resonate with you.  I like stating that intention aloud (or silently letting it radiate through my being) with clarity that I want to align with the life force energies so that everything I create is in alignment and in harmony with the Divine or Source energy.  If you are using prayer or rituals, I think it is important to sit and digest, allowing inner self to internalize anything you have received from that connection. Do this daily during this time period.  An especially good time is at dusk or dawn when day and night are even and there is a balanced period of yin and yang energies.
• Direct your love and attention inward to the liver (right side of the body below the rib cage) by smiling.  Imagine that your smile is a radiant spotlight beaming appreciation and love and saturating every cell of the liver organ with its light and luminosity.

Remember that attuning and aligning with this energy is a daily practice. In order to effectively attune to yourself and the life force, like any relationship, it needs daily attention and time.